Author: Valentine Tawie Salok

Tawie

Turning drawbacks into benefits

On the other side of a storm is the strength that comes from having navigated through it. Raise your sail and begin. — Gregory S. Williams No doubt, moving from the longhouse to a small langkau kebun (rubber garden hovel) in 1962 had been a wise decision by my family.

Tawie

Elections and ‘X’ attempts by elders

In 1969, it was interesting to note that elders in my Kedap longhouse in Saratok were busy preparing for the general election, slated to be held that year. On May 10, Malaysians across the South China Sea cast their votes to elect the third Parliament but voting was postponed until

Tawie

HIATUS NO DETERRENCE TO CROONING PASSION

Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain’t going away. —  Elvis Presley After such a long pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic plus some other factors, I found out that I could only be about 50 percent of my usual self

Tawie

Enthralling inaugural school’s land sport

The five S’s of sports training are: Stamina, speed, strength, skill and spirit; but the greatest of these is spirit. – Ken Doherty, Irish snooker player I recall with nostalgia the enthusiastic and most of all, curious faces of the Nanga Assam School community, both students and parents in June,

Tawie

Have done it all, except as candidate

A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation. —  James Freeman Clarke, American author Exactly a year prior to my first holy matrimony date, Sarawak held its nomination day for the fourth state election in 1983 — with the polls to be held between Wednesday,

Tawie

Our naughty acts displeased grave robbers

Even in prosperous times, the living robbed the dead. ― Jocelyn Murray, author The year 1966 was very significant for folk in Melupa as this was the very first time the Sibu-Kuching trunk road prided in its conquest and became useable. It was also the year that my dad’s original

Tawie

Prolific sharpening stone sharing with superhuman

Most awards, you know, they don’t give you unless you go and get them — did you know that? Terribly discouraging. —  Barbara Streisand, American singer Three of my Saratok’s Kedap longhouse relatives — a cousin, a spouse of a cousin and a nephew-in-law (husband of my niece) were part

Tawie

We’re kings, mortals too

The image is one thing and the human being is another. It’s very hard to live up to an image, put it that way. – Elvis Presley The year 2014 was historic for local Elvis fans and tribute artistes (ETAs), also known as the King’s Men. That was the twelfth

Tawie

Top king’s man leaves the building

His kind of music is deplorable, a rancid smelling aphrodisiac. It fosters almost totally negative and destructive reactions in young people. – Frank Sinatra, American singer Initially, I was hoping it was just a dream, but reality struck within seconds — Sarawak’s top Elvis tribute artiste (ETA) Ges Barundang succumbed

Tawie

Privileged by music, journalism

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything. — Plato, Athenian philosopher ‘Diva Ernie, M’sian Elvis give dazzling show’, reads The Borneo Bulletin’s inside page on its July 16 issue of 2000. As music endears one to enthusiasts and